December 18, 2015 - 9:00pm
Travis Meyn - The Courier-Mail
JAMES Roberts would have to sacrifice $300,000 to chase an NRL premiership under Wayne Bennett at the Broncos.
The Broncos are willing to offer Roberts about $250,000 a season over two years if he decides to join the club.
The Dragons are the only club to have made Roberts a formal offer, tabling a $400,000-a-season two-year deal.
Roberts is keen to make a decision before Christmas and his adviser, Jeremy Donovan, will meet Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire in Sydney today.
Bennett is keen to bring Roberts to Red Hill but is not willing to break the bank for the fastest man in the NRL.
The 22-year-old would likely be taking a pay cut from the $275,000-a-year contract he had at the Gold Coast, which was ruled void after a signature was forged on it.
The Broncos are hoping Roberts can see past a potential drop in salary.
Playing under seven-time premiership-winning coach Bennett could take Roberts’ game to the next level while the Broncos are an incredibly successful and stable club.
Roberts also enjoys living in Queensland after spending the early years of his career at South Sydney and Penrith.
James Roberts is one of the game’s most exciting stars.
The Broncos went within seconds of winning this year’s grand final and will field practically the same team next year, minus retired centre Justin Hodges who Roberts would replace.
“The Broncos have maintained they’re keen,” Donovan said. “They’ve said they’d love James but he’d have to make a decision.
“James knows what the Broncos look like in terms of their leadership. He’s evaluating all of those perspectives.
“It’ll come down to how he feels about it all.”
If Roberts decides to join the Broncos it would trigger a chain reaction at Red Hill.
Roberts could force Dale Copley (pictured) out of the Broncos. Picture: Annette Dew
Dale Copley is under pressure to stay at the club but the Titans are ready to pounce on the centre if he is forced out.
Copley, who has played 72 NRL games in six-and-a-half seasons, is contracted until the end of 2016 but the Gold Coast has earmarked him as a potential recruitment target.
Roberts received interest from a European rugby club but will spend the weekend deciding where his NRL future lies.
“James wants some time with his partner to work out what they want to do and where they want to go,” Donovan said.
“He’s taking some time to make the decision for himself. It’s really up to James right now.
“He wants to consider everything. We’re evaluating it all.”
Roberts was this week named in the Indigenous All Stars team for the first time.
